Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-09-29
be should return nj once from abroad,

4
and urging them to spend few weeks
at Oakcliffe Towers.
you will have enough of London by
the end of May" he said, land Oak
clilfe is Just in full perfection now"
~ have had enough OF London now"
said the duchess; land Fulke. only
think how strange 1t is; ! have rever
been at home since my marriage"
II thought you had been at home ever
SINCE" said the duke, laughingly.
"You know what mean; l have new
err been ut 0akcliffe or Rydesdale Let
us go. should like to see Oakcliffe in
spring"
you shall go with pleasure, Et ell"
said the indulgent young husband.
.'But you will 90 with me, she cried
suddenly; II should not care to go
alone. 1 should not enjoy Oak"lifie
even without you"
So it was settled that they should 60,
and the last week in May found both
the duke and duchess at Oakclitfe.
Papa" she said, Il feel as if were
just seventeen again, and the happiest
g ri in the world and VIVA a happy
girl Ethel Stair was"
81 hope Ethel Meath is even happier. i"
he said.
IL think she is" laughed the yonng
duchess. Il had the kindest and best
father in the world then; l have the
kndcst and best of husbands in addi-
ton. Papa" she added, suddenly,
chow beautiful the Herons' Pool looks.
| thiak it the loveliest spot in Oakclitfe.
$50 did your mother" he replied.
his face suddenly clouding over
II know cried the young duchess.
eagerly. '.You told me before. II was
her favorite haunt. have never seen
il look as it Goes this year. The water
lilies are so white and the forget-me
nots so blue"
Your mother loved the spot" he
said Flowed it dearly"
His daughter drew nearer to him.
She laid her arms round his neck, and
said gently:
1T is so long since my mother died.
Do YOU remember her wellp'
Il have never forgotten her," he
said -. see her as plainly, as wildly
now as have ever done. All, Ethel,
she was SO beautiful! Her hair was
like bright gold, and her eyes SO sweet.
have seen no woman like her"
w 40 shC Nciy h"pPJ' papa oThN VI
the young duchess, after n pause. II
can not tell how it is, but when | think
of her / always seem to have the idea
that she was sad and thoughtful, not
happy" ..
"Sho was SO young when we were
married, and 1 was too fond of my
books" he said slowly. "If had my
life to live over again l would do very
differently"
The duke joined them then, and the
conversation beca1 general. 1t turned
upon the robbery, which had not been
mentioned between them yet
a.. was in Paris" said Lord Stair.
"when read of it, and was terribly
shocked when read about it. wrote
TO you thel, about it"
} "Yes, / remember, papa"
1T seems strange thing" he said,
"that the woman should have kept my
portrait"
"She would not know whose portrait
: it was said the duke. 1T was not
for the sake OF the picture but the dia-
} monds that she had secreted the locket. -"
"Still it seems strange" he said,
that she should have kept it. | must
get another for you, Ethel"
Not like that, rapa " she said. ~
should never like it. can not tell you
how fond l was of that poor Mrs. Grey.
} can not tell what attracted mo to her.
| was struck with her the first moment
| saw her looking in at the park gates.
| asked her to come in and gather the
} bluebells, but she did not hear me.
From that very moment ms heart was
: drawn TO herr"
WAS she such beautiful woman?"
; asked Lord Stair.
) Yes; but it was such sorrowing
beauty. She looked always like Mater
Dolorosa. | have never seen, either
before or since, such face as hers. She
was so gentle and refined, with the
sweetest voice in speaking that / have
: ever heard"
'What kind of woman was she?''
asked the earl.
! Tall and slender-her face very
farther eyes the color of fresh violets-
her hair was black she had lovely
white hands. do not exaggerate,
papa. when say that she might have
been n duchess. Her manner was SO
l graceful, so perfect. could never
, even if e. cry jewel had in the world
; had been found in her box-I could
never have believed her to have been 8
! thief.
ethel always maintains the woman
, innocence, said the duke 1--WE have
ceased to argue the question, because
we shall never agree about it. l fee
sure she was guilty"
, at seems a strange thing that moth.
ing has been heard of the rest of the
3 Jewels" said Lord Stair.
, II am not so sure that it is strange"
r said the duke. They are being KEEP,
.. quiet, l should imagine. until the search
? is supposed to be over. Then they will
l be sold, in Holland most likely; the
rich diamond merchants OF Amsterdam
! will buy them"
1t seems to me only YESTERDAY thai
] brought the lockets home," said Lore
, Stair. "Ethel what do you think your
! poor mothers criticism upon my por
Q trait WASH
Il can not tell" she answered
, what was it, papap"
. "She said she liked it because the eyes
: had such kind expression"
so they have, papa" said Ethel; I"
3 have noticed that myself. What became
, of the other locket papa; the one 20,
j gave to my dear mother?"
81 do not know" he answered. "Hel
Q maid Phoebe Askern, ran away at the
q time, and your aunt, Lady Thamer
always said she took many OF my poo
: wife s Jewels with her. Whether sh'
4. AZ. IL. Al ~